A dozen Census Collectors will join an estimated 5000 walkers, riders and runners as they take part in the 11 km Brooks- Fitness First Sutherland to Surf this Sunday.

The group, an assortment of collectors and area supervisors, will be working on their fitness as they prepare for Australia’s largest peacetime operation- the 15th National Census of Population and Housing set to take place on Tuesday 8th August.

While they might not be dressed as superheroes (although sporting bright Census T-Shirts!), they are the unsung heroes of our community- tirelessly working to ensure that everyone in the local community is counted come Census night.

They will start delivering forms to local households from Friday 28th July and will come back to collect forms after Census night.

The Director of Census in New South Wales, Sue Phillips, has praised these Sutherland collectors for taking part in a wonderful community event, and for keeping their fitness up.

"Census Collectors are the statistical foot soldiers in this national operation and it is great to see them taking part in the Sutherland to Surf,” she said.

"They have been recruited from the communities we are counting, allowing us to engage with the public through locals they know.

Census District Manager for the Sutherland region Norm Bennell has praised his staff’s involvement.

"Each collector will visit between 200 and 500 homes, depending on how populated their collection district is and how far they have to travel so their fitness is really important.

“It’s fantastic to see my staff out there engaging with the community- it is what the Census is all about.

"People should expect a knock on their door from Friday 28th July,” Mr Bennell said.